Pakistan tops infrastructure development ranking

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has been recognised as the ‘Best Country for Infrastructure Development in South Asia’ by the emerging markets, a publication of the IMF/World Bank annual meeting, in recognition of its massive progress in the field.

The country award was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Jalil Abbas Jilani, on behalf of Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal at a ceremony here during the IMF/World Bank annual meetings.

Speaking on the occasion, Jilani thanked the emerging markets for recognising and supporting Pakistan’s development trajectory that was inextricably linked to peace in the region.

The ambassador highlighted that Pakistan was committed to regional connectivity and share the fruits of prosperity with all neighbors.

Jilani expressed confidence that his government’s people-centric development policies and regional economic cooperation would usher in a new era of prosperity.

The ongoing major projects include building of new thermal power plants, the construction of a 700-kilometre LNG pipeline and the up-gradation of the Karachi-Lahore railway track, to name a few.

The centerpiece of the massive infrastructure development work is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which involves construction of rail and road network, gas pipelines, industrial zones and development of the Gwadar port.

CPEC would connect China’s western region to Pakistan and is aimed at revolutionising the economic progress and enhance regional connectivity.